Qatar Airways has explained the circumstances surrounding the unplanned return of its flight from Lagos to Doha, which made an emergency landing at Murtala Mohammed International Airport on Friday. The airline stated that flight QR 1406 was forced to return due to a technical issue that occurred with the aircraft.
At the time of the incident, the aircraft was carrying no fewer than 248 passengers. “The cockpit crew followed established procedures and landed the aircraft safely,” the airline confirmed in a statement. It added that all passengers disembarked without incident and are being accommodated while arrangements are made for them to be booked on the next suitable flights to their destinations.
Additionally, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) released a preliminary report on the incident. In an e-statement signed by the Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, Dr. Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu, the agency noted that it acted promptly after receiving a distress alert on its 767/112 Toll Free Emergency Lines. Preliminary investigations conducted by the agency’s response teams indicated that the immediate cause of the incident was the technical issue experienced by the aircraft.
“All passengers of the distressed aeroplane were evacuated safely; no injuries were reported,” the statement said, confirming that there were no fatalities or injuries sustained during the incident. “Despite the technical issues and forced landing, the incident did not result in any significant damage to the aircraft, and the aircraft has been secured on the apron, while recovery activities have been completed,” it added.
The fully loaded aircraft, which included 12 crew members, developed a technical fault mid-air, triggering distress alerts and necessitating an immediate emergency response. Oke-Osanyintolu assured the public of the agency’s readiness to respond to emergencies, noting that the swift and coordinated response helped avert what could have been a major aviation disaster.
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